Europe

Winner Accuses French Government of “Massive” Election Fraud

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on Winner Accuses French Government of “Massive” Election Fraud

Election results for the European Parliament mortified the French political class, as this universally despised layer is called in France. But now the winner has the gall to accuse the government of “having rigged the vote by the most odious means” to prevent its victory.

For Love Nor Money: The Bank That Nobody Wants To Buy

by Don Quijones •  • Comments Off on For Love Nor Money: The Bank That Nobody Wants To Buy

By Don Quijones: The Spanish government is desperately trying to offload one of the bailed out, nationalized, and supposedly fully restored banks. The problem: no one wants it.

Airbus CEO Calls For Currency War, Shoots Himself in Foot

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on Airbus CEO Calls For Currency War, Shoots Himself in Foot

Boeing got more orders in the first quarter than archrival Airbus. So at the ILA Berlin Air Show, Airbus CEO Fabrice Brégier spoke up against this ridiculous injustice. True to his Frenchness, he exhorted the ECB to do what central banks are supposed to do.

Russia Dumping US Treasuries? But Why the Heck in Belgium?

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on Russia Dumping US Treasuries? But Why the Heck in Belgium?

Belgium is known for its surprises. For example, it got by amazingly well for a couple of years without a national government, to the chagrin of a lot of people. Now that tiny country with a tiny economy is suddenly piling up a mountain of US Treasuries.

France Thumbs Nose at Obama Over Sanctions: Will Deliver Two Warships to Russia

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on France Thumbs Nose at Obama Over Sanctions: Will Deliver Two Warships to Russia

The battle between the US and France has been brewing for months, but now it came to a head: the French government decided to spite the US and move forward with the contract to deliver two warships to Russia. To heck with those silly sanctions.

Spanish Judge Crosses Line by Sending Bank CEO to Jail

by Don Quijones •  • Comments Off on Spanish Judge Crosses Line by Sending Bank CEO to Jail

By Don Quijones: The Spanish magistrate Elpidio Silva is just about the only judge in the Western hemisphere to have sent the CEO of a bailed-out too-big-to-fail bank to jail. Turns out, that was huge mistake.

Mutiny of the Lab Rats: Europeans Grow Weary of EU Experiment

by Don Quijones •  • Comments Off on Mutiny of the Lab Rats: Europeans Grow Weary of EU Experiment

By Don Quijones: Europeans are pushing back against the EU Super State. Tired of being treated as lab rats in a dysfunctional economic and political experiment, a large minority will vote for euroskeptic parties in the nearing European elections.

Putin Parties With German Ex-Chancellor, Sanctions Be Damned

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on Putin Parties With German Ex-Chancellor, Sanctions Be Damned

Putin is a master at this game. Even as the sanction spiral is supposed to strangle his ambitions for the Ukraine, he set up a photo op of incomparable ingenuity. And his confidant, ex-Chancellor of Germany Gerhard Schröder stepped in it with gusto.

LEAKED: Draghi’s Sudden Switcheroo On QE

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on LEAKED: Draghi’s Sudden Switcheroo On QE

It happened at a private meeting with top lawmakers in Germany during a two-day shindig.